What the dumbest "house rule" you've heard of from a dealership?

"Battery Tender Unnecessary" (carac)
03/18/2014 at 13:08 • Filed to: None

I was just told, by a dealership I've bought cars from, that they "don't mount tires that are purchased elsewhere". Not even if Michelin themselves sent you a set.

During a open house at a local shop that specialized in classic BMWs, Mercedes, Porsche, etc I won a door prize for free set of Michelin tires in any size. Being the most expensive and "disposable" tires of any car I own, I got a set of Pilot SuperSports for the SLS. Now the original tires are finally worn out and I need to get the new ones mounted and balanced. So I call the closest MB dealer (they are usually the most careful not to mark/scuff a rim), MB of Knoxville and ask for an appointment to mount and balance...but they "don't mount tires that aren't purchased here." I explain that I didn't "buy" them anywhere and that I was a regular customer and patron of their service and parts department. "Sorry sir, you didn't buy them here so we can't help you." I'm tempted to try and get the BMW dealer next door to mount them out of spite. It's a small thing and it sounds a little extreme but it makes me never want to do business with them again. Anyone else run across dumb "rules" at dealerships?

Other honorable mentions I've run into are:

No loaners if you didn't buy the car there (even if you were getting an out of pocket service that cost hundreds)

Either not giving or requiring a fee to print off the service history of a used car you purchased

And many more I can't recall.

DISCUSSION (20)

Brian Silvestro > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:11

I find it shocking that a MB dealer wouldn't cater to an SLS owners' every demand. That's like telling the same thing to an R8 owner at an Audi dealer. I've always thought they treat the supercar owners better than all the rest.

dinobot666 > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:13

It's usually a liability or insurance issue that prevents them from mounting a tire that wasn't purchased through one of their tire suppliers.

DrJohannVegas > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:14

When I lived on the East Coast, there was a VW dealer near me which flatly refused ("against VWNA policy", which was total BS) to give part numbers or parts prices outside of a service invoice.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:14

Trying to buy a WRX I was told that unless I was ready to buy, I wasn't going to get a test drive. First it was a 2008 them a 2014.

Tom McParland > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:14

That is ridiculous...so Michelin sent you a set directly and your Benz dealer won't put them on even though you bought the Benz there.

I actually have the flip-side, my Mazda dealer will put any tires on from anywhere and actually give you a mounting discount if you buy their own in addition to lifetime free rotations. I got mine from Tire Rack and because few people bring in outside tires they still charged me the in-house mounting price with the free rotations.

Bad Idea Hat > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:15

I don't understand that. If you're a customer, or even just a potential customer (especially with the car you have), then why alienate you over what really just amounts to a few bucks? If I'm running a dealership, I would go out of my way to get you in for the tires, offer to inspect the car/etc, and basically fall over myself in an attempt to get you as a future customer.

Then again, I don't own a dealership. Maybe it's something I wouldn't understand.

Frank Grimes > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:16

That is super lame they would be so insistent its not like you were asking for them to do it for free so I see no reason why they wouldnt be happy to do that. It takes like 1/2 hour to do. I would write an email to the owner or whoever is in charge and tell them about thier stupid rule. If I was the owner I would go out of my way to help a customer. Yes It might cost me money but I also might sour a relationship with a customer if I refuse.

Jagvar > OPPOsaurus WRX
03/18/2014 at 13:20

Had the same experience trying to test-drive a Mazda6.

Jayhawk Jake > OPPOsaurus WRX
03/18/2014 at 13:21

Same exact thing. Then I say well I won't know if I'm ready to buy until I drive it, but they won't budge.

Drsweetdik > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:23

The Chrysler Town & Country in the showroom is not for entertaining prostitutes. Go figure.

Jagvar > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 13:24

My perpetual shoelessness very rarely gets me into trouble, but one such time was at a dealership. I was accompanying a friend who was shopping for a new car and asked me along to share my two cents. We were just walking the lot (not even the showroom, mind you), and the salesperson came running out and said I wasn't allowed to be there, as I was apparently a "liability." My friend was so ticked off with the guy that she immediately eliminated that car from her list.

spanfucker retire bitch > OPPOsaurus WRX
03/18/2014 at 13:25

That's insane. The dealership I purchased my car from actually told me to take the car home for the weekend - I didn't even have to ask, and we did not agree on a purchase yet.

How is a dealership like that still in business?

mattoverdrive > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 14:06

I've always had good experiences with the guys at the TireBarn on Kingston Pike. I don't know what they'd charge for mounting and balancing, but they sold me a lifetime rotation package for the tires that came on my BRZ.

OPPOsaurus WRX > spanfucker retire bitch
03/18/2014 at 14:10

I don't know how they are still in business. A friend of mine walked from the same place. He had to drive almost 2 hours for the next car. The place I bought the car from actually offered a drive before I could ask.

KoenigSTIGg > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 14:54

I wasn't allowed to test drive a WRX because it was raining. They let me test drive the XK or whatever it's called, but not a WRX and I still don't know why.

Dogapult > spanfucker retire bitch
03/18/2014 at 15:15

I honestly don't fully understand this sort of thing. the car could have hundreds more miles on it after that. Wouldn't that be a problem for them?

spanfucker retire bitch > Dogapult
03/18/2014 at 15:34

I'm sure there's a "reasonable" limit they have. They didn't tell me what it was, but I didn't abuse it either.

signintokinjalol > OPPOsaurus WRX
03/18/2014 at 16:03

I don't mean offense, but do you have a bed credit score or even a police record?

A lot of dealerships can look right into that, right when they enter your name on the computer.

OPPOsaurus WRX > signintokinjalol
03/18/2014 at 18:41

No and no. Besides, I don't think they had even gotten to that point.

The Compromiser > Battery Tender Unnecessary
03/18/2014 at 20:38

"DON'T PEE IN THE SHOWER" I mean come on I'm a guy... stupid house rules...

Am I doing this right???